Choose UK Sure for your Non-Standard Home Insurance

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Buildings and contents insurance to protect your home.

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If your home is listed, uses special materials or you have particular considerations to make, you may need Non-Standard Home Insurance.

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As a specialist insurance broker, we’re able to secure cover for even the most unusual homes. And we do so at a great rate where other companies would struggle to even provide a quote.

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Your home is an investment that is worth protecting. After spending so much time and money on your home sweet home, taking care of your investment is your top priority. With all the stress of moving to handle, you can relax when it comes to insuring your home.

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What is non-standard home insurance?

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Non-standard home insurance is a catch-all term covering all sorts of houses that won’t be protected under standard home insurance.

It applies to houses that aren’t built in the usual way, for instance if they have a thatched roof. Likewise, it’s useful for homes built in risky locations, such as known-flood risk areas.

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You also need non-standard home insurance if you have certain personal circumstances, including past convictions or bankruptcy.

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What counts as a non-standard property?

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There are many types of ‘non-standard’ properties for the purpose of insurance, and it’s hard to list every one. However, the following categories are commonly covered under non-standard insurance:

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Flood risk: Properties that have previously been flooded or are in flood-risk areas.

Unoccupied long-term: Properties that have been unoccupied for a long period of time, including those undergoing renovation before being sold or let, and those gained through inheritance.

High-value: If your home is worth a lot of money, it may require a specialist policy.

Non-standard construction: Including thatched roofs, timber or log frames, and prefabricated concrete.

Listed buildings: Listed buildings require specialist insurance due to the extra regulation that surrounds how they’re built and renovated.

Subsidence: A history of subsidence needs to be declared. In most cases, where the subsidence is less than 20 years ago, you will need to provide the insurer with a structural engineers report dated within the last 12 months.

Criminal convictions: You must declare to your insurer or broker if anyone living in the property has a criminal conviction

Bankruptcy: If you’ve previously declared bankruptcy, you’ll need to let your insurer know

 

 

 

What is non-standard construction?

 

Homes with unusual construction are probably the most common reason to buy non-standard home insurance. But what constitutes non-standard construction?

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Timber frames: Whether these are modern or mock tudor, wood-frame homes need extra care.

Steel frames: Strong and resistant to rot, these are more expensive to repair.

Flat roofs: Flat roofs are at higher risk of water damage during wet weather.

Modular construction: These require specialist maintenance and replacement parts.

Thatched roofs: An icon of the British countryside, thatched roofs require regular, skilled replacement.

Barn conversions: Many types of residential conversions will require slightly unusual insurance.

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Other unusual materials: Including wattle and daub, cob, flint or even alternative cladding.

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Why do I need specialist cover?

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If you have a non-standard home, you need specialist cover for the simple reason that repairing it or rebuilding it would be more expensive than for a standard property. This is either because the materials themselves are rarer or more expensive to make, or because they require specialist skills and craftsmanship to repair or replace.

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Furthermore, many non-standard constructions require more maintenance than normal, or their materials may just be more prone to damage. All of these factors increase the risk that your insurer will have to pay out, which has the effect of driving your premiums up.

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You may also need to take out specialist cover if the following applies to you:

• You are an ex-offender

• You have declared bankruptcy

• You have a county court judgment (CCJ) in your name

• You have a history of bad insurance claims

• You work in certain high-risk occupations

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